Continuous gluing press



Dec. 15, 1953 H. H. PAYZANT CONTINUOUS GLUING PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 27, 1947 Dec. 15, 1953 H. H. PAYZANT CONTINUOUS GLUING PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27, 1947 M2 NJ I I I H M: N\ Q3 V \6 2 Q 0 O Q m3 b3 mi. BM

wN 23 K N|\ QS L w t. Q%

v INVENTOR. Henry ll. Pa yzani' BY Dec. 15, 1953 H. H. PAYZANT 6 CONTINUOUS GLUING PRESS Filed 001;..27, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Henry H. Payzanz Dec. 15, 1953 H. H. PAYZANT CONTINUOUS GLUING PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 27, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

H. e H

Dec. 15, 1953 2,662,564

H. H. PAYZANT CONTINUOUS GLUING PRESS Filed 001;. 2'7, 1947 6 Sheet s-Sheet 5 44 /Y YJ '6 m1 f EV 1 MW INVENTOR. Henry H. Payzarzi v w I 4 Dec. 15, 1953 H. H. PAYZANT 2,662,564

CONTINUOUS GLUING PRESS Filed Oct. 27, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 i I I I g I g I.

Fig. 75

INVENTOR. Henry 1 Pagzani BY Attorney Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTINUGUS GLUING PRESS Henryllarris Payzant, Seattle, Wash, assignor to Timber Structures, Inc.,. a corporation of Delaware Application October 27, 1947,"Seri'al No. "782,351

23 Claims.

Theobjectofthe :present invention isto providemeans for automatically iormingv laminated articles, particularly articles formed of heavier A elements than are usually used in. the production of laminated articles, although not necessarily limited tosuch heavy laminations, and particu-' elements, in orderto provide trusses or other structures. with load bearing members of unusual rigidity and strength. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and machine for theautomatic formation of curved wooclenbeams of various degrees of curvature and size.

A further object of the present invention is to conserve diminishing natural resources by pro vidingmeans to. utilize small scraps, boards or bars of Wood, which maybe formed. from small trees'or. from scrap slab wood, to produce structural members which normally could only be supplied by utilizing large portions. of largetree trunkswith a great deal of wastage, or by tedious.

and expensive methods of shaping and joining short sectionsof normally straight seams;

A iurther'object of the present invention to provide aimachine .and..metho l. for forming. articles of laminations of material anda thermosetting. resin including heat generating'means of the high frequency flu type having unusual efiiciency whereby high-speed, continuous flow production may be maintained.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a laminating machine for making long laminated articles of various degrees of curvature,-whieh may be easily and-quickly shifted. to

maintain the machine properworlzing rela-' tionship with extraneous equipment such as assembling and feeding eouiipinent.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine wherein a completely clressedlaminated beam. ormvooden arch may be prcducedregardless of the thickness, width and degreelof. curvature: of the beam; or. arch,:- within it certain limits.

The inventioniis illustrated and describedin the instant application as applied to the forma tion of curved wooden beams by laminating smaller bar stock, but the objects and advantages:

of the present invention are equally applicable to the manufacture of other laminated articles or structures'such as plywood, laminated fiberboard articles, laminated barrel or tank staves and curved laminated articles formed of laminations of materials of various types.

The objects and advantages of .the present invention will 'be more readilyapparent from .in-

speotion of the accompanying .drawingstaken in connection I'with the following specification wherein like numerals refer toilike parts through- 1 out;

In the drawings Fig.1 is ap-lan view With portions broken .awayoi a machineembodying the present..inventioniland'so designed as to'form a curved laminated wooden beam;

Fig-2 is a side elevation of the machine (taken. from the top of Fig. '1');

Fig.53is an end elevation of the machine look ing from the right end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section with portions removed; taken-substantially along line 4-4; of Fig. 1;

Fig- 5 is;a iside..elevati'on.of a portion. of the i.

machine taken isubstantially' from lined-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig.1; is affront elevation of the portion. of the machine thereof;

Fig. 7 is apartial .planview on a greatly. enlarged scale of a portion .of the machine;

Fig.1.8yisv an enlargeddetail view of a portion Ll" of themachinelocated. at the left endof Fig.2;

Fig..:9 is a.verticalsection:taken substantially Iv along;line.t:9 of Fig. 8;.

Fig. 10 is a partial vertical section on an enlarged scale takensubstantially along line ill-alt i of Fig. 1;

Fig. 1.1 is azpartial 'verticalsection on an enlargedscale: taken substantially along" line Fig." 12 isa vertical: sectiontalzen along line !2 i2 of Fig. 1t;

Fig/13 is a partially broken; element of the machine shown and away VifiW of an .i in Figs. :2 and'3;

Fig.:l4 is .-an enlarged horizontal section taken along line 1M-Ui of Fig. 13.

The machine of thepresent.invention'cornshown in Fig. 5, taken from line 6'6' U prises a supporting structure It including a heavy flat plate H which extends beneath most of the machine. The plate H supports a plurality of pairs of channel bars i2 extending transversely of the machine with their flanges extending toward each other to form hololw guides extending from side to side of the structure. The pair of channel members 52 at the entering side of the machine (the left of Fig. 1) extends beyond the rear of the machine and the pair of channel members i2 at the exit side of the machine extends beyond the front and rear thereof for a purpose to be described.

Each of the intermediate pairs of channel members 52 provide guides for mounting a plurality of conveyor guiding means. The conveyor guiding means at the front of the machine comprise upright plates Hi mounted across the front ends of the channel members and having threaded openings therethrough for the reception of threaded rods it retained in adjusted positions by nuts it. The rods 15 are welded to blocks l'i' which are slidable upon the channel members if? and retained and guided by bolts l3 passing through the slots therebetween and nuts 59 engaging the lower surfaces of the flanges. A vertical pivot member 28 having a collar at its upper end retains a spacer 2! in upright position on the block H. An overhanging plate 22 extends forv-Jardly from the top of the spacer 2i and supports a depending earn 23 having a rounded vertical face 24. At the rear of the machine the channels iii are attached to a longitudinally extending angle iron 36 which supports a plurality of horizontally extending lower guide bolts Li and upper guide bolts 32 having nuts and lock nuts at their free ends. Slidably mounted on the guide bolts is a vertical plate 32 extending longitudinally of the machine and provided with a plurality of pairs of lugs as for the reception of pivot pins 35 aligned with the slots between the channel members :2. A threaded rod 36 is pivctally fastened to the pivot Su and extends into a horizontal tube 3? in which it is retained in adjusted position by a rotatable nut 38. The forward end of the tube 31 is attached to a sliding block 39 guided for movement by bolts extending between the channel members and nuts t! thereon. A vertical pivot post 42 retains an upright collar 33 having a forwardly extending arm 44 provided with a depending cam having a curved cam surface 48.

Each of the collars 2! and iii-3 may therefore be adjusted independently of the others so as to provide a path therebetween of any configuration ranging from straight to various degrees of curvature up to the limit of flexibility of the material being laminated or the limits of the machine. The tubes 31 may if desired by replaced by shorter or longer tubes in certain cases in order to accommodate extreme adjustments, and sir rilarly rods i and 36 may be formed with longer threaded portions for aifecting various degrees of adjustment.

The entire set of plates 39 is adapted to be pressed elastically toward the plates I! by means including a flexible container such as a section or fire hose ES placed between the upright leg of the angle bar 39 and the vertical plate 33, the hose being inflatable by fluid entering through a supply tube 5! under control of a twoway valve having a handle 53. When it is desired to release pressure against an article being laminated the fluid may be exhausted from the hose so by turning the handle 5 to Shut 4 off the supply tube 5! and open an exhaust tube 54.

Articles to be laminated, such as a plurality of substantiallysquared and straight bars 55, may be assembled in face to face relationship and provided with an adhesive (preferably a thermosetting adhesive of which there are many available such as the phenolic resin base adhesives) on extraneous assembling and feeding equipment such a exemplified by ti bed 58 adjacent the entering end of the n. hine. The assembled elements with the moist unset adhesive between adjacent laces thereof are advanced across the bed between guides t! while being retained thereon by pressure elements of any suitable nature such as the plurality of pivoted bars 5:] mounted upon a horizontal pivot SI and having downwardly extending fingers 52 engaging the top of the assembled unit, The rear extremities of the bars 63 may be support-ed upon a rubber pad '53 mounted upon horizontal plate as and provided with depending rods passing through lugs 65 and nuts whereby the 00mpression of the fingers 62 may be maintained Within resilient limits, each or" the bars being yieldable to accommodate individual variations or rough spots in the material. The table 55 terminates shortly after extending into the space between the members 25 and :23 and is thereafter succeeded by a plurality of short bed sections ":9 having spaces therebetween for a purpose to be described, the sections M! (Fig. 4-) being suitably mounted upon the channel members i2 in any conv nient manner (not shown).

At the exit end or" the machine the support i8 supports a pair or" vertical plates ii and :2 which straddle the last pair of channel members if. and extend to a considerable height thereabove, the plates ii and F2 sup-porting an intermediate shelf 23 and an upper shelf M which extends across the machine and is supported by a vertical channel member 35 at the front end of the last pair of channel members !2. The intermediate shelf '53 supports a reduction gear motor l6 which drives a sprocket I? and a vertically extending sprocket chain E8 passing about a sprocket it on a differential gear box mounted on the upper shelf M. The gear box contains gears (not shown) for driving a depending pair of shafts 3| connected through universal joints 82 to a pair of spline shafts 83 which extend into telescoping shafts 5 3 having universal joints 35 at the lower ends thereof. The universally shiftable driving shafts so formed drive a pair of horizontally spaced vertical shafts 85 and a: mounted substantially in line with the members 2! and 43 respectively. The shaft 86 is supports upon and extends upwardly from a longitudinally shiftable block 83 retained and guided along the channel members I: by means such as the bolt 89, whereby the position of a sprocket 93 may be suitably adjuste. Similarly shaft 8'! is supported on a block 9! guided upon the channel members it by bolts and drives shiftable sprocket 93. The gear box to assures constantly uniform application of driving force to the two sprockets 9G and 93.

A pair of conveyors are mounted in a substantially horizontal common plane upon the support IQ, each comprising a sprocket chain driven by its respective sprocket so or 93 and arranged so as to have working flights traveling in the same direction while maintained in substantial parallelism by the guiding means including plates [1 and 39. The sprocket 9!! drives a shorter sprocket chain having a working flight 94 and a return flight 95, and the sprocket es drives a longer chain having a working flight es and a return flight 91. The short chain passes about the driving and working flight engaging sprocket 9G; a return flight idler sprocket as, an adjustably mounted return flight idler sprocket s9, and a second adjustably mounted idler working flight sprocket Hill. The longer chain passes about the working flight driving sprocket as, and adjustably mounted idler return sprocket Edi, a second adiustably mounted idler return night sprocket l 5.52 and an adjustably mounted idler working flight sprocket Hit. The general spacing of sprockets and the lengths and outlines of the chains may vary considerably, it being merely necessary that proper clearance be provided for the various parts and the functioning of the various parts. The sprocket iiill is mounted upon a block Hi5 retained and guided along the channel members if by bolts I86, and the sprocket it?! is mounted upon a plate lill retained and guided along the channels iii by bolts iilii. whereby the positions of the sprockets Hit and it may be adjusted to maintain the sprockets in line with the chain guiding members and the driving sprockets to accommodate different widths of beams or other articles being formed.

The sprocket I02 is mounted upon a member lid having a pair of depending threaded guides ii i passing into the space between the channel members l2 and engaging an adjusting screw i I2 extending through the end plate i it and having a collar ll i thereon, the screw being provided with a crank I which when rotated adjusts the position of sprocket if to take up or provide slack in the long conveyor chain. At the opposite end of the machine sprocket it! is mounted upon a similar adjusting block Me which may be operated by a. screw 1 if and a crank i is. Preferably screws Hi2 and Hi support sprockets lid and lit respectively, about which passes a sprocket chain iii in order that operation of either crank E E5 and H8 may provide simultaneous and uniform adjustment of the two return flight sprockets.

Idler sprocket SQ is preferably mounted upon a block I slidably adjustable longitudinally of a pair of guide members 128 by means of a crank if? so that slack may be taken up or provided in the short conveyor chain.

The provision of means for adjusting the tension of the conveyor chains accomplishes several functions; first, the correct tension may be ap plied to the chains for eihcient operation; second, a greater or lesser length of chain may be pro video. in each working flight to accommodate various curvatures of material being formed; and third, slack may be provided in order that the working flight conveyors may be adjusted to accommodate different widths of materials.

The conveyor chains (Fig. 7) preferably comprise standard sprocket link chains having outer link members I36) and inner link members lei connected by suitable pivot pins Edit. The outer link members i3ll are preferably welded. to a pair of outwardly extending bars I33 providing sup port for a vertically extending pivot bolt tilt, the pivot bolt passing through and retaining an outwardly projecting block of dielectric material 535 against a backing plate welded between the bars i353. One end of each block 35 is preferably provided with a tongue its adapted to fit into a groove ii in the adjacent end of the next block when chain is in straight line or curves of the normal extent of curvature for which the machine is designed. As seen in Fig. 7 the blocks separate as the chain passes about the sprocket gears such as the idler sprocket 99. The outer end of each block [35 is preferably provided with a rounded surface I38 so that the contact of eacblock with the surface of the material being ongaged thereby is very slight, being practically a line contact in order that slippage between the surface of each block and the surface of the material may be relatively easily accomplished within certain limits. The upper and lower surfaces of each block are preferably provided with vertical ridges I39 extending beyond the bars its .10 a considerable extent for a purpose to be described.

As the working flight of the short conveyor passes next to the upright members 2! roller spacers M0 surrounding the pins i3? engage a guide bar Mi welded to the front surface of a flat strip of material 142 extending between the front surfaces of the uprights 2i and providing a continuous track to smoothen the curvature of the Working flight. Similarly rollers on the working flight of the longer chain engage a bar M3 mounted upon a plate lee extending along the surfaces of the uprights at so as to smoothen the curvature of the opposed working night. Each of the dielectric block mounting pins [34 supports a vertical roller M5 which extends above the conveyor chains to a sufficient distance to engage the rounded cam surfaces 24 and ed respectively of the sets of chain guiding devices. The cams 23 and 55 therefore provide means for assuring maintenance of the rollers it?) against the respective guide bars i i! W3, and also intermittently release extreme pressure of one of the blocks I35 and shift its position slightly to permit the material to assume arcuate shapes. A sort of kneading action is thereby provided which permits the laminations to slip relatively to each other and reduces strains caused. by the bending action as much as possible. In Fig. 1 it will be seen that the cams are staggered to a considerable extent adjacent the entry to the working flights where the greatest amount of kneading action is desirable.

If a quick setting adhesive is employed, or the speed of the conveyors is rendered slow enough, or if laminated materials are fed the grip of the conveyors and caused to assume the arcuate shape and then the conveyors arrested for considerable period of time, the adhesive may set to retain the laminated material in this arcuate shape. I prefer, however, to employ a thermosetting resin and provide means for setting adhesive while the conveyors are in movement. thus providing a continuous forming machine of large output. In order to set the adhesive, adhesive setting means, in the form of then rosetting adhesive heat generating means is prov .ed in an intermediate portion of the machine, the heat generating means preferably taking the form of upper electrodes l and lower electrodes iii! connected by conductors i52 and i533 respectively to a source of high frequency alternating current (not shown). The electrodes preferably comprise plates or blocks of conductive ma and are placed above and below the laminat to cover the adhesive bearing areas thereof in the spaces between the supporting plates it shown in Fig. 4. As seen in Fig. 18 various ones of the upright members 2i and is support overhanging plates 22 and 4d respectively which are made of dielectric material the earns 23 and 45 supported thereby be f. materials with surface plates S55 0 al to guard against wear by the rollers M5. The upwardly projecting ridges 539 on the gripper blocks I35 provide fiux shields for reducing bypassing of the adhesive bearing areas. The blocks L35 and the supports 22 and M- are preferably of such extent that the path of least resistance between the electrodes I59 and i! is through the material being laminated so that thermosetting heat is quickly generated as the material traverses the machine. As viewed. in 10, it will be noted that the outward extent of the dielectric blocks is such that the space between the electrodes 555 and i5! is very materially less than the space from either of the electrodes to chains supporting such blocks so that all of the dielectric flux will pass through the laminated assembly. As seen in Fig. 1 there are preferably a plurality of pairs of electrodes arranged in sequence, which is preferable to a pair of long electrodes which might permit concentration of flux at a single point.

In order that a smoothly finished beam. or similar article may be provided and to assure ei'fi cient operation of the heating electrodes, I prefer to provide the inlet portion or the machine with upper and lower planing cutters. The upper planing cutter may be driven by an electric motor its mounted upon a suitable stand 253 which is shifta-ble along certain of the channel members 52 by a shaft 252 and heel 33. The motor 5% drives a planer its through belts H35, the planer being so locat as to smooth upper surface of the laniinati 3.5 while the dhcsive is still moist and before the afiected the heating means. A. second motor i6 6 is suitably mounted on the machine and drives a lower cutter head (not shown) parallel to and immediately beneath the upp use through suitable n W15 such belts 53?. The two planers therefore provide means for planing th surfaces i aediately prior to setting or the adhesive. The parallel superimposed rangement thereof permit vertical shifting of certain of the laminations so as to provide uniform thickness throughout the beam or article.

After the adhesive has set so that spreading of the laminations is no longer possible and the formed article has been released from the grip of the conveyors I may reduce the width of the beam to a standard width, or otherwise shape the beam as by rounding the corners thereof, by passing the beam between vertically positioned planers or milling cutters located at the outlet side of the machine. The vertical millers are preferably mounted upon a block Ill) slidable along a bed ill by means of a pinion (not she's-7n) turned by a crank H2 engaging a rack l'ill on the bed iii. A pair of spaced posts l'l i and H5 support motors H6 and ill respectively, each of which drives a suitable milling cutter As seen in Figs. 8 and 9 a post such as post HG may be provided with an overhanging shelf 583 through which passes an adjusting screw is: extending upwardly from the upper arm of a pair of such arms fastened to the motor casing lit, the screw is: passing through a thumb nut resting upon the shelf :83 and adjustable to move the motor vertically. A. vertically adjustable abutment 586 extends outwardly from the post s and is provided with a bolt its extending through a lug lfi depending from the upper plate 82, there being a spring 281' compressed between the lug its and the abutment Hi l and tending to maintain the cutter head in operative position against the edge of the beam.

The cutter head illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is intended to remove the corners only without lessening the thickness of the beam. For this purpose the cutter head is provided with a central noncutting portion into which projects a finger 98 resting against the surface of the beam. The finger is maintained in proper position by an integral arm 59! extending upwardly through an opening in the lower motor arm I52 and provided with a lug E92 engaged by the depending tip of an adjusting screw H53 passing through a lug I94 depending from the arm l 82 and held in adjusted position by suitable wing nuts or the like. The milling cutter may give away from the material as permitted by the spring is! in the event it strikes a hard spot. If it is desired to smooth the entire surface of the beam the bolt I may be adjusted to limit the inward movement of the milling cutter, the finger I95 removed, and a suitable cutter head substituted. Vertical adjustment of the cutters is provided by the screws I BE, separation of the cutters is permitted by shifting the position of the abutment lat, and movement of the cutters to accommodate different degrees of curvature is permitted by the crank H2.

In order automatically and continuously to remove sawdust and shavings from the equipment means are preferably provided such as the flexible hose or tube 260 terminatin in a suitable hood 2!!! located in proper relationship to the upper planer I54 at the entering end of the machine. A companion collector is located beneath the machine (not shown) and may include a tube or hose 2E2 extending toward the exit end of the machine and joining a vertical tube or hose 263 extending thereabove. The tube 203 is provided with collector heads such as the head 204 (Fig. 3) in proper position to collect waste from the vertical milling cutters at the exit end of the machine.

In order to permit shifting of the entire machine in such manner that the entry to the conveyors is always properly aligned with extraneous equipment such as the assembly and feeding table 56 means are provided to permit swinging of the machine about a vertical pivot post 250 located at one side of the machine, preferably in line with the centers of curvature of the various arcs which may be formed by adjusting the chain guides. The pivot post is provided with an anti-friction bearing 2H upon which rests a bracket 212 extending from the support 50 and retained by a pivot pin 2l3. Suitably spaced beneath the machine are four supporting legs H5. The lower end of each leg supports a canted wheel 2H5 which may comprise a ball bearing assembly with the outer raceway form ing the floor engaging wheel. The axes of the wheels are inclined downwardly and toward the axis or" the pivot post so as to intersect the axes of the pivot post below the pivot post. The rear wheels 256 may ride upon short arcuate plates 25'! and the front wheels 2I6 may ride upon longer arcuate plates 2H5. I have thus provided a construction whereby swinging of the machine with a minimum of manual effort may be accomplished.

In order to hold the machine in the adjusted position I preferably provide at least one braking means comprising a bracket 220 depending from a portion of the frame it] at a point far removed from the post 2m and having a shoe 221 depending therefrom through adjusting screws 222 Which m b tightened until some of the weight 9 f the machine is borne by the shoe Hi to pre-v vent movement of the machine, or loosened to permit adjustment of the machine to accommodate various curvatures of beam or the like.

Operation By way of summary the operation of the machine is as follows: A plurality of elements to be laminated are suitably assembled with adhesive between the various elements. The assembled unit is advanced until engaged by the gripper blocks I35, whereupon further movement is accomplished by the machine elements. The gripper blocks compress and knead the laminations so as to cause them to adjust themselves to the change in shape accomplished by guiding the materials through the arcuate path de termined by the setting of the chain guides. While the adhesive is still moist the upper and lower surfaces to the unit may be planed if desired. Immediately thereafter heat is generated in the material by passing high frequency flux therethrough to set the adhesive while under pressure, thus forming a rigid unit of the laminated pack. Preferably a plurality of pairs of a spaced electrodes are provided so as to eliminate any tendency for flux to seek softer spots Without accomplishing the heating of the adhesive. After the material has completely cured itself while traversing the remaining portion of the working flights or" the conveyors, its edges or vertical surfaces may be trimmed to standard thickness or shape. Various degrees of curvature, from straight line articles to curved articles at the limit or" flexibility of the material, may be provided by adjusting the chain guiding members, if necessary substituting longer or shorter adjusting rods for those illustrated. Various widths of pack may be accommodated by separating or bringing together the chain guides and preferably also separating or bringing together the working flight sprockets. Slack may be provided or taken up as required by changes in ourvature or width of pack by adjusting the positions of the return flight guiding sprockets. The entire machine may be swung about the pivot post 2! ii in order to maintain the entry between the working flights in line with extraneous equipment. While the material is still in flexible condition with the adhesive unset the grippin elements are worked or kneaded so as to permit the material to seek positions of least strain.

I have herein illustrated the machine as designed to form arched wooden beams by combining small long bars of squared stock. As seen in Fig. i, solved joints may be provided in order to utilize smaller lengths of material than re quired, preferably the joints in each bar being widely spaced from other joints. It is to be appreciated that the machine and method herein disclosed may be utilized to form other laminated articles, structures or the like, such as laminated plywood or curved sheet forms made of laminated wood or other material such as fiberboard, paper, textiles and metals in various combinations.

As explained in my above-mentioned patent, in the manufacturing of laminated wooden beams, rough edged boards of varying width will ordinarily be used. As is also pointed out in my abovc mentioned patent, it is highly desirable to plane the opposite sides of the assembly while it is under pressure and while the adhesive is in the unset state in order that the electrode plates may be arranged so as to make direct contact with the glue lines in the smooth planar sur- 10 faces thus formed. Economy in the consumption of electrical energy is thus obtained and accumulation of adhesive upon the electrode plates is precluded, resulting in high overall eificiency and low manufacturing cost.

While I prefer to employ thermo-setting adhesive and high frequency adhesive setting means, it will be obvious that rapid setting or catalytic setting adhesives may be employed dispensing with the necessity for the heating means. Even in such instances, it is desirable to plane the opposite sides of the assembly while it is moving through the machine in that the extra handling operation is thereby eliminated. The beam may thereby be conveniently reduced to its final desired dimensions in the same operation in which the beam is initially glued up.

It is also to be appreciated that I have illustrated and described a machine wherein rapid production of a large number of articles is permitted bythe use or tnerniosetting adhesives and high frequency flux creating heating means, but other terms or heating means may be en:- ployeci as permitted by the thickness of the materials and the rate of travel of the conveyor chains. Likewise Ieatures and methods herein disclosed may be utilized 101' the production of laminated articles employing adhesives which may be set by suitable cnnnng means rather than heating means, or intermittent operation may be accomplished without chilling or heating the adhesive by runninga laminated pack into the machine and holding it there until the adhesive sets.

Various modifications in detail and arrangement of the machine and various alterations in the process herein disclosed will readily occur to those skilled in the art. All such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope or the appended claims are considered to be a part of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine for forming laminated wooden beams from smaller bars which have been placed side by sioe and provided with adhesive etween contiguous faces, a pair of endless conveyors arranged with adjacent working nights traveling in the same direction and engaging the outer races or the outer pair or bars While the adhesive sets, guiding means arranged to maintain said working nights in substantial parallelism, auJustment means extendinglongitudinally 01' one or said working ni hts and en aging the guide means associated with said one working Ingnt for snlitmg salol one Working night toward the other or said working nights.

a. in a machine 101' lei-hung laminated beams from smaller bars which have been placed side by side and pro wood with adhesive between contlguous races, a pair or endless conveyors arranged substantially horizontally in a common plane with adjacent working- Ingnts traveling in the same direction and engaging the outer Iaces or the outer pair or bars while the adhesive sets, guiding means engaging each or said working nights to maintain sai Working flights in substantlal parallelism, and a pressure member extending longitudinally or said working nights and operatlvely engaging all of said guiding means engaging one or said working flights ror urging said one Working flight toward the other of said working flights.

3. In a machine for forming laminated wooden beams from smaller bars which have been placed side by side and provided with adhesive between contiguous faces, a pair of endless conveyors arranged with adjacent working flights traveling in the same direction and engaging the outer faces of the outer pair of bars while the adhesive sets, and arcuately arranged guiding means engaging each of said working flights to maintain said working flights in substantially parallel arcs, and an elongated straight pressure member extending in the direction of said working flights and operatively engaging all of said guiding means engaging one of said working flights to urge said one working flight with substantially uniform pressure against said bars throughout the entire length of said one working flight.

4. In a machine for forming laminated wooden beams from smaller bars which have been placed side by side and provided with adhesive between contiguous faces, a pair of endless conc veyors extending wholly in a common horizontal plane and arranged with adjacent working flights traveling in the same direction and adapted for engaging the outer vertically extending faces of the outer pair of bars while the adhesive sets, and a plurality of separately adjustable guiding means engaging each of said working flights and adjustable to maintain said working flights in substantial parallelism in one of a plurality of selectable arcuate positions of difierpass, said sprockets comprising working flight sprockets and separate return flight sprockets.

'7.The combination set forth in claim 4 in which said conveyors comprise sprocket chains and sprockets about which said sprocket chains pass, said sprockets comprising working flight sprockets and separate return flight sprockets, and adjustable mounting means for the working flight sprockets of at least one of said conveyors whereby beams of various widths may be formed.

8. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which said conveyors comprise sprocket chains and sprockets about which said sprocket chains pass, said sprockets comprising working flight sprockets and separate return flight sprockets,

adjustable mounting means for the Working flight sprockets of at least one of said conveyors whereby beams of various widths may be formed, and adjustable mounting means for at least one of said return flight sprockets of each conveyor whereby to provide or take up slack as said working flight sprockets are adjusted to accommodate different widths of beams or as said guiding means are adjusted to form beams of different curvatures.

9. The structure set forth in claim 4; in combination with a horizontally extending rigid support for said conveyors and guiding means, and vertical shaft means pivotally mounting said support to permit partial rotation of said support about a vertical axis whereby to permit adjustment of the angular position of said machine about said vertical shaft.

10. In a machine for forming curved laminated articles from smaller straight articles which have been placed face to face and provided with adhesive between contiguous faces, a pair of endless conveyors arranged substantially horizontally in a common plane with adjacent working flights traveling in the same direction and engaging the outer faces of the outer pair of articles while the adhesive sets, a plurality of separately adjustable guiding means engaging each of said working flights and adjustable to maintain said working flights in substantial parallelism in a plurality of arcuate positions of different degrees of curvature, and a single pressure member operatively engaging all of said guiding means engaging one of said working flights for simultaneously and uniformly urging said one working flight throughout its entire length toward the other of said working flights.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 in which said pressure member comprises an expansible tubular clement extending longitudinally of said working flights.

12. The combination set forth in claim 10 in which said conveyors comprise sprocket chains and sprockets about which said sprocket chains pass, said sprockets comprising working flight sprockets and separate return flight sprockets, and said pressure member is arranged between said working flight sprockets and said return flight sprockets of one of said conveyors.

13. The combination set forth in claim 10 in which said conveyors comprise sprocket chains and sprockets about which said sprocket chains pass, said sprockets comprising working flight sprockets and separate return flight sprockets, and adjustable mounting means between said pressure member and said guide means for the working flight sprockets of at least one of said conveyors whereby laminated articles of various widths may be formed.

14. The combination set forth in claim 10 in which said conveyors comprise sprocket chains and sprockets about which said sprocket chains pass, said sprockets comprising working flight sprockets and separate return flight sprockets, adjustable mounting means for the working flight sprockets of at least one of said conveyors whereby laminated articles of various widths may be formed, and adjustable mounting means for at least one of said return flight sprockets of each conveyor whereby to provide or take up slack as said working flight sprockets are adjusted to accommodate different widths or as said guiding means are adjusted to form different curvatures.

15. In a machine for forming laminated wooden beams from smaller bars which have been placed side by side and provided with adhesive between contiguous faces, a pair of endless conveyors arranged substantially horizontally in a common plane with adjacent working flights traveling in the same direction and engaging the outer faces of the outer pair of bars while the adhesive sets, and guiding means arranged to maintain said working flights in substantially parallel arcs, said conveyors comprising sprocket chains, the links of which comprise outwardly projecting gripper blocks having rounded work-engaging surfaces and upwardly projecting stems, and said guiding means comprising a plurality of curved cams adapted to engage said stems and shift said gripper blocks from side to side.

16. In a machine for forming laminated wooden beams from smaller bars which have been placed side by side and provided with adhesive between contiguous faces, a pair of endless conveyors arranged with adjacent working flights traveling in the same direction and engaging the outer faces of the outer pair of bars while the adhesive sets, and. guiding means arranged to maintain said working flights in substantial parallelism, said conveyors comprising sprocket chains, the links of which comprise outwardly projecting gripper blocks having rounded work-engaging surfaces projections, and said guiding means comprisin a plurality of cams adapted to engage said projections to shift said gripper blocks.

17. In a continuous gluing machine for forrning laminated wooden beams from smaller bars which have been placed side by side and provided with thermo-setting adhesive between contiguous faces, a pair of endless conveyors arranged with adjacent working flights traveling in the same direction and engaging the outer faces of the outer pairs of bars so as to compress the bars therebetween in a direction normal to said faces, a pair of planing means mounted above and below said conveyors for providing smooth plane surfaces upon the assembly of bars between said working flights free of excess adhesive, and adhesive setting means comprising electrode plates arranged between said working flights rearwardly of said planing means and adapted to engage with the planed surfaces on the opposite sides of the assembly of bars between said working flights.

18. A continuous gluing machine for making laminated wooden members utilizing a plurality of longitudinal wooden strips of random widths which are assembled together in a side by relation with a film of thermosetting adhesive between each adjacent pair of strips, said machine comprising a pair of coopera ing conveyor means including means for applying pressure to the opposite edges of said assembly in a rection normal to said adhesive films to force said adjacent side surfaces of said strips tightly together and to express excess of adhesive outwardly of said assembled strips, means for driving said conveyor means for moving said compressed assembly of strips continuously in a direction longitudinally thereof, planing means mounted on opposite sides of said conveyor means for planing the opposite uneven sides of said assembly normal to said films while moving under pressure to remove excess wood and adhesive from the edges of strips of excess width to provide smooth plane surfaces on each of the opposite sides of said assembly normal to the planes of said adhesive films, and a pair of high-frequency heating electrode means mounted on opposite sides of said conveyor means behind said planing means and arranged for contacting engagement with the adhesive lines in said plane surfaces while said pressure is maintained upon the opposite edges of said assembly.

19. A continuous gluing machine for making laminated wooden members from longitudinal wooden strips of random widths of relatively wide sides and relatively narrow edges, formed into an assembly of a plurality of said strips in a side by side relation with films of fluid, thermosetting adhesive therebetween, a pair of continu ous conveyors having cooperating evenly spaced apart working flights, means operatively connected to at least one of said working flights for appl ing pressure to the opposite edges of said assembly in a direction normal to said adhesive films to force said adjacent side surfaces of said strips tightly together and squeeze excess adhesive from therebetween, a pair of planer heads mounted on opposite sides of the space between said working flights and intermediate the oppc site ends of said working flights and adapted for planing the opposite sides of said assembly nor mal to said adhesive films to remove excess wood from the edges of said strips and excess adhesive simultaneously from the opposite sides of said assembly while moving under pressure to form parallel smooth planar surfaces on each of the opposite sides of said assembly normal to said adhesive films, a pair of high frequency heating electrode plates mounted between said planer heads and the rear ends or said working flights mounted for contacting engagement with the glue lines in said opposite planar surfaces of said assembly.

20. A continuous gluing machine for making smooth-surfaced laminated wooden members from a plurality of longitudinal wooden strips having relatively wide sides and relatively narrow rough edeges and formed into an assembly in a side by side relation with films of fluid adhesive therebetween and with said rough edges exposed on each of the opposite sides of said assembly, said machine comprising means for applying pressure to the opposite edges of said assembly normal to the adh sive films to force the adjacent surfaces of said strips tightly to gether and to express excess adhesive from therebetween, conveyor means for moving the COl'iipressed assembly of strips continuously in a direction longitudinally thereof, driving means connected to said conveyor means, a pair of planer heads for planing said opposite rough sides of said compressed assembly to form smooth parallel planar surfaces upon each of the opposite sides of said assembly normal to said adhesive films while said assembly is in motion and under pressure, and high frequency heating means arranged adjacent said conveyor means rearwardly of said planer heads and spaced apart the same distance as said planer heads whereby said heating means will contact said planar surfaces for effecting rapid setting of said adhesive fiilms while said assembly is under pressure.

21. A continuous gluing machine for making smooth-surfaced laminated wooden members from longitudinal wooden strips having unfinished edge surfaces and. side surfaces and formed into an assembly in a side by side relation with said edge surfaces exposed fiatwise on each of the opposite sides or said assembly and with films of moist adhesive between adjacent side surfaces, a pair of cintinuous conveyor chains having co-- operating spaced apart working flights arranged in an arcuate configuration and adapted for moving said assembly of strips continuously in a direction longitudinally thereof, pressure means operatively connected to one of said working flights for applying pressure to opposite side edges of said assembly to force the adjacent adhesive bearing surfaces of said strips tightly together, and planer means mounted on opposite sides or said conveyors for finishing the opposite side surfaces of said assembly by removing the unfinished edge surface portions of said strips to provide smooth planar surfaces on each of the opposite sides of said assembly while the latter is in motion and before said adhesive has set, and high frequency heating means arranged adjacent said conveyor chains on opposite sides of the space between said working flights for effecting heating and setting of the adhesive films between adjacent wooden strips while said assembly is in motion and under pressure, said heating means being arranged rearwardly of said planer means and spaced apart the same distance as said planer means so as to make con 15 tacting engagement with said smooth planar surfaces.

22. In a continuous gluing machine for forming laminated articles from smaller articles which have been placed side by side and provided with adhesive between contiguous faces, a pair of endless conveyors arranged with adjacent working fiights traveling in the same direction and engaging the outer faces of the outer pair of articles While the adhesive sets, pressure means operatively engaging the working flight of one of said conveyors throughout the entire length thereof for compressing said articles between said working fiights in a direction normal to said faces, said conveyors comprising sprocket chains having blocks wholly of dielectric material for engaging said articles projecting outwardly from the links thereof, each of said blocks being secured to and supported by separate individual links of said chains, and a pair of high frequency electrode plates placed respectively above and below said conveyors across the space therebetween in vertically spaced relation to each other, the outward projection of said blocks being such that the space between said electrodes is less than the space from either of said electrodes of either or" said chains.

23. In a continuous gluing machine for making laminated wooden members from a plurality of longitudinal wooden strips of varying widths which are formed into an assembly in a side-byside relation with a film of adhesive between each adjacent pair of strips, said machine comprising a pair of conveyor means having cooperating, eveniy spaced apart working flights, pressure means operatively connected to the working flight of one of said conveyors for applying pressure to the opposite edges of said assembly in a direction normal to said adhesive films and to force said adjacent side surfaces of said strips tightly together, means for driving said conveyors, a pair of planer heads mounted on opposite sides of said conveyors intermediate the opposite ends thereof for planing the opposite uneven sides of said assembly normal to said adhesive films while moving under pressure, said planer heads being mounted adjacent the forward ends of said conveyors, and heating means arranged adjacent said conveyors rearwardly of said planer heads for engaging the planed surface of said assembly for effecting rapid setting of said adhesive while said assembly is under pressure between said Working flights.

HENRY HARRIS PAYZANT.

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